Yes, you can use a credit card to buy a money order, but most sellers will not accept it
Most places that sell money orders — banks, post offices, grocery stores, check-cashing outlets — do not take credit cards as payment. They accept cash, debit cards, and sometimes traveller's cheques, but not credit. A few exceptions exist: some online money order services and certain grocery chains may allow credit card payment, but these are uncommon and often charge higher fees.
The reason is straightforward. Money orders are a cash-equivalent product. The seller is converting your payment into a may provide instrument that the recipient can cash anywhere. Accepting credit for that transaction creates fraud risk for the seller — if you dispute the charge later, the seller has already handed over the money order and cannot recover it. A debit card or cash eliminates that risk because the money is already gone from your account.
If you need a money order and do not have cash or a debit card on hand, you have a few real options, but none are direct.
Key Takeaways
- Most money order sellers — the post office, banks, grocery stores — require cash or a debit card and will not accept credit cards.
- You can withdraw cash using a credit card at an ATM (with a cash advance fee), then use that cash to buy a money order.
- Some online money order services accept credit cards, but they charge higher fees and take longer to deliver than in-person purchases.
- If you are trying to avoid spending cash, a money order is not the right tool — consider paying the recipient directly by bank transfer or check instead.
- Using a credit card to get cash for a money order costs you a cash advance fee, so compare that cost against other payment methods before proceeding.
Getting cash from a credit card to buy a money order in person
If you have a credit card but no cash or debit card, you can withdraw cash at an ATM using a cash advance. This converts your credit card into usable cash, which you can then take to any money order seller. The catch is the cost: most credit card issuers charge a cash advance fee (usually 3 to 5 percent of the amount withdrawn) plus a higher interest rate on the cash advance than on regular purchases.
For example, if you need $500 for a money order and your card charges a 4 percent cash advance fee, you will pay $20 just to get the cash, plus interest starting when ready. That $20 fee alone is often more than the money order itself costs (typically $1 to $3). Before you use this route, calculate whether the cash advance fee plus interest makes sense compared to other ways to send money.
To take a cash advance, visit an ATM that accepts your card, select "cash advance" or "withdrawal," and follow the prompts. The money appears in your account when ready, but the fee and interest charges post within a few days. Check your card's terms to confirm the cash advance fee percentage and interest rate before you proceed.
Online money order services that accept credit cards
A small number of online platforms sell money orders and accept credit card payment directly. These services are real, but they are slower and more expensive than buying a money order in person. You order online, pay by credit card, and the service mails the money order to you or the recipient. Delivery typically takes 5 to 10 business days.
Because these services handle the fraud risk themselves and operate online, they can afford to take credit cards. However, they charge higher fees than in-person sellers — often $5 to $10 per money order, compared to $1 to $3 at a post office or bank. They also require you to wait for delivery, which makes them unsuitable if you need the money order urgently.
These services are most useful if you are buying multiple money orders or have no way to access cash or a debit card. For a single money order needed soon, the cost and delay usually make them a poor choice.
Why money order sellers avoid credit cards
Understanding the seller's perspective helps explain why this is so difficult. When you pay cash or debit, the money is final — the seller keeps it, and you cannot reverse the transaction. A money order is then just paper; the seller has already been paid and has no exposure.
With a credit card, the seller faces a chargeback risk. If you dispute the charge with your credit card company weeks later, the card company can force the seller to refund you. By that time, you have already cashed the money order and spent the money. The seller is out both the money order value and the refund they had to issue. This is why credit card processors and money order sellers treat the transaction as high-risk.
Some sellers also straightforward lack the infrastructure to process credit cards. Smaller post offices, check-cashing outlets, and independent grocery stores may not have card readers or online payment systems, so cash and debit are their only options.
Alternatives to a money order if you have only a credit card
Before you go through the cost and hassle of using a credit card to get a money order, consider whether a money order is actually what you need. If the recipient straightforward needs to receive money, several faster and cheaper methods exist.
Bank transfer or ACH payment: If you know the recipient's bank account number and routing number, you can send money directly from your bank account to theirs. This works even if you only have a credit card — you can pay your credit card bill from your bank account, then initiate the transfer. No money order needed, and the transfer is free or costs a few dollars.
Check: If you have a chequebook, write a check. The recipient can deposit it at their bank. This costs nothing and takes a few days to clear. If you do not have cheques, you can order them from your bank or use a service like Chequewise to print and mail a check on your behalf.
Wire transfer: If the money is urgent and the recipient is in the same country, a wire transfer through your bank is faster than a money order. It costs $15 to $30 but arrives the same day or next business day. You can initiate it online or by phone.
Payment app: If the recipient has a smartphone, you can send money through Venmo, PayPal, Square Cash, or a similar app. These are free for standard transfers and when ready or next-day delivery. The recipient does not need a money order; they just need the app.
When a money order actually makes sense
Money orders are useful in specific situations: when the recipient needs a may provide payment instrument (not a personal check), when they do not have a bank account, or when you need a paper trail for a large payment. They are also useful when you want to send money to someone you do not fully trust with your bank details.
If you are in one of these situations and have a credit card but no cash, the cash advance route is your most practical option. Withdraw cash at an ATM, pay the fee, buy the money order in person, and move on. Just make sure the fee is worth it — if you are sending a small amount, the cash advance fee might exceed the value of what you are sending.
For most other situations, the alternatives listed above are faster, cheaper, and easier than a money order. Choose the method that matches what the recipient actually needs, not what you happen to have in your wallet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a credit card at Walmart or grocery store money order counters?
Most Walmart and grocery store money order counters accept cash and debit cards only. A few grocery chains may accept credit cards, but this varies by location and is not standard. Call ahead or ask at the counter before you go. If they decline, you will need to use a debit card, withdraw cash, or find another payment method.
What is the difference between a cash advance and a regular credit card purchase?
A cash advance lets you withdraw cash from your credit card at an ATM. It costs a fee (usually 3 to 5 percent) and charges a higher interest rate than a regular purchase. A regular purchase is when you swipe your card at a store — no fee, and interest only applies if you carry a balance. Cash advances are expensive, so use them only when you have no other option.
Will using a credit card to get cash for a money order hurt my credit score?
A cash advance itself does not hurt your score, but it increases your credit utilization (the percentage of your available credit you are using), which can lower your score slightly. The bigger issue is the fee and interest cost. If you carry the cash advance balance for months, the interest charges add up quickly.
Can I dispute a money order purchase if I paid with a credit card cash advance?
Once you have withdrawn cash and bought the money order, the transaction is complete. You cannot dispute a money order purchase because the money order seller received cash, not a credit card charge. If the money order is lost or stolen, you would need to contact the seller about a replacement, not your credit card company.
Is it cheaper to use an online money order service or withdraw cash and buy in person?
Withdrawing cash is almost always cheaper. A cash advance fee of 3 to 5 percent plus a $1 to $3 money order fee is typically less than an online service's $5 to $10 fee. However, online services are faster if you cannot leave your home, and they avoid the cash advance interest charge if you pay off the advance when ready.